The scripture readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time turn on the healing power of touch. The importance of Jesus' touch is clear from considering the opposite: to be untouchable. In today’s culture the word “untouchable” has several meanings. We had a TV series about the Untouchables, law enforcement officers of high ethical standards who could not be “touched” or bribed. In other parts of the world “untouchable” referred to the lowest class of people. The religious attitude in Jesus’ time held that the sacred should be separated from the world. Ritual laws held that certain things should not be touched. If one touched a ritually unclean object a purification would be necessary before approaching the temple. Sometimes this was necessary. Burying a body was necessary - and a religious duty. However, ritual cleansing would be necessary.
There are two opposing spiritual traps here. The first is that, as a result of trying to live good lives, we begin to think of ourselves as “untouchable” - i.e we are incorruptible. Our view of self is that we are good persons and contact with bad persons will somehow render us unclean. The second, is that our self esteem is so low that we don’t believe anyone wants to touch us.
Mark’s gospel (5:21-43) gives us a different perspective: Two linked cases in which Jesus is touched by a woman suffering from hemorrhages and in which he goes to touch a girl who has died. In both cases his touch is a healing one. Fully human, Jesus is aware of the sufferings of the woman, the girl and her parents. His touch is more than healing. It is transforming.
There is a transforming lesson for all of us in this. We are all “touchable.” First, we are touchable in the sense that we can be induced to make ethical compromises. Second, with the aid of grace, we can become aware of our own weaknesses and shortcomings. As we do, we can recognize that these are capable of healing.
There is a way out of this. When he wrote Amazing Grace, John Newton got it right:
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved….”
Once we are aware of our own weakness can begin to accept the weakness in others and to extend to them a healing touch.